Stosur’s star rises with big guns out
SAM Stosur is ready to defy Father Time and capitalise on a dramatically reshaped French Open draw as the Queenslander closes in on a second major.
Stosur faces US qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands tonight for a fourth-round berth in a draw now shorn of several of her toughest rivals.
In the absence of Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka, this year’s Open was already regarded as one of the most winnable — and unpredictable.
And now, after just four days, Stosur finds herself ideally placed to push for a fifth semi-final and second final berth at Roland Garros.
World No. 1 Angelique Kerber and dual Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova’s elimination has left Stosur as clear favourite in her section to advance to the quarters.
Beyond that, she is seeded to clash with defending champion Garbine Muguruza or Venus Williams in the last four. If successful overall, Stosur, 33, would become the tournament’s third oldest female champion.
“As far as some of the older players, I think there is still a lot of life left in a lot of us older ones who are over 30,” Stosur said. “I think we keep proving that time and time again that, you know, it’s certainly not a hindrance.
“We can use that experience and, yeah, hopefully I can use everything and have another good tournament here.”
Stosur’s transformation on clay from Melbourne Park easybeat to Parisian powerhouse is both physical and mental.
“With my weapons [serve and forehand], I can use them maybe a bit more easily on this surface,” she said.
“I don’t know. Maybe I just feel a bit more confident this time of year or something.”
Like Stosur, Mattek-Sands loves European clay and has excelled in doubles and mixed doubles in Paris.
“She’s obviously one of the best doubles players in the world. She’s going to want to try and be aggressive,” Stosur said after stopping Belgian Kirsten Flipkens. “I know she always tries to be on the front foot, be aggressive, probably move forward a bit, try to make a lot of plays herself.”